2009. Mystified is a pseudonym for Thomas Park, an ambient/electronic musician who lives in the midwestern USA. He's been prolific under the Mystified name as well as the Mister Vapor project, but this is his first release with Hypnos Secret Sounds. Most recently, Mystified has collaborated with Nunc Stans on a release One Thousand Dreams on the Dataobscura label, and he has previously collaborated with Robin Storey (Rapoon) and Nigel Ayers (Nocturnal Emissions).

One of the things we enjoy at Hypnos is helping expose listeners to artists they may not have heard before, and that includes even artists whose work has been released widely on a variety of labels. The work of Mystified, while elsewhere working with more pronounced electronic rhythms, here emphasizes deep, slow-moving textures. Primal Mystification includes subtle and restrained percussive elements but is definitely geared toward the listener who loves deep, thick drone work.

Mystified himself says of this recording:"Primal Mystification emerged from drone sounds, similar to the way we humans emerged from the primordial ooze. Oscillating ambient bell washes were created using field recordings and mystical effect processes, and then simple rhythmic and melodic phrases evolved from the primal material. Sometimes there is a change or development in the rhythmic material, and always there are changes in the drones, behind, as they shift and flow. Primal Mystification is a musical union of form and formlessness."

Some people I work with received copies of this. It provoked interesting reactions.

I think this was discussed in another thread, but to re-state-- I have trouble explaining my music to people. No one at the library had heard of "ambient" at all. That surprised me a little, but I guess it should not have, since the library files Eno's music under "Jazz" (and Tangerine Dream and all blues, too).

So I usually tried to say that the music is like a soundtrack to a movie, with world ambient flavor.

"Primal Mystification" is really one of the few things I have done that I think I could share with peers in this way. It is not as minimal as many of my efforts. I think the first 2 tracks will especially appeal. I also love tracks 3 and 4 but admit they are darker and edgier and might not flip the wig of the middle-aged librarian.

Incidentally, the physical copies came out really nice with "Primal Mystification". The water image is just dark enough to print nicely, and everything looks just right. I am very happy about that.

Bill Fox played “Massive Turning”, from mystified’s Hypnos Secret Sounds release, “Primal Mystification”, on his well-regarded radio show, “Galactic Travels”. Galactic Travels plays on 88.1 WDIY Pennsylvania and on various broadcasts throughout the state and digitally online. A piece from Steve Brand's HSS release was also played.

Byron Kerman, a popular freelance writer from Saint Louis, created a short review of "Primal Mystification":

“Primal mystification alternately conjures thoughts of settling in for the sleep of machines in the sub-rumble of a boiler room; the aurora borealis toying with the audible spectrum; alien conquerors come to claim their stake – our echoing fear; finally cracking the door to the secret spirit realm; the day that machines gain sentience and blink up at their gobsmacked creators; and a group of motherless children beating out a post-apocalyptic drum circle in desperate hope.Truly, a sonic headphone journey that removes one far from the physical. Perfect for the Hearts of Space radio program, too.”

I don't know personally about the Hearts Of Space thing, though it would be an honor, but the other stuff seems relevant.

I received my copy today. I've listened to it twice. Very good. Well done, sir. Initial favorite is "back to primal". I like the juxtoposition in the mix between the rhythms and the synth textures. I'm going to rip it to the iPod so as to listen to it during my travels. I'll post more thoughts as i digest more.

Here's a review of Primal Mystification, originally posted by Mystified a few days ago and accidentally just deleted by me.

Quote

“The unbelievably prolific Thomas Park returns to us once again with a rather lovely full-length offering (as Mystified) on Hypnos Secret Sounds--’Primal Mystification’. Mr. Park’s more free-form (or perhaps it is more appropriate to refer to it as “formless”? I refrain from using the genre terms “ambient“ or “drone” as they have been over-referenced for decades) work often touches on something powerfully inexplicable and nebulous--magickal. This particular release would be no exception.

The album starts out with a piece entitled ‘Massive Turning’. It’s a bit deceptive if one thinks they have the Mystified sound pegged--as one expects gassy, shimmering atmospheres. It delivers just that…only it is coupled with an organic percussion that is unheard to me in the work of Mystified! An instrument such a tabla would have been too obvious, so what sounds like bongo is appropriate and more enthralling. Layered along with these sounds are also piano chords. ‘Massive Turning’ seems to be literal--a massive turning POINT in the direction stylistically. And it works like a charm.

Next is ‘Departing Certainly’. And that it certainly is--a departure from the banalities of life into an almost hallucinatory, emotional transcendence. The piece feels like walking in someone else’s shoes of their past , blurred and fading melancholia.

‘Not Knowing Where’ is the apex for this gem of a disc. This is the most potent track of all--and the one I am the most familiar with (seeing that I produced the video for it). Every time I hear it I get the sense of being lost BLISSFULLY in the cosmos…but full of wonder. Music for lysergic inner-space travel.

Concluding this release is ‘Back to the Primal’. Despite an almost “electronic feel” at times, it is re-entry music for returning to the mundane tribe/masses perpetuated by consensus reality--the primal of the flesh prison we are born into. Or is it vice-versa? Either way, it is a trip beyond this world (and beyond genre traps) you wish would NEVER end! But until we leave this mortal coil and its restraints of the physical body, it is only possible to touch on these realms with the aide of such ART as that of Mystified…”